Hot Garbage Waiver Wire for Week 8: Ponder These Adds (Guest Contributor Jeff Brubach)

 

Well, well, well….we meet again. I’m back in the saddle, filling in for old Rummy this week and we’ve got lots to cover. The injuries are mounting after week seven ripped through the fantasy landscape and that leaves plenty of opportunity for new players to step up and help your fantasy team. Below, I highlight a few key players to scoop up (Hot Garbage) and some to leave in the can (Cold Trash).

 

Hot Garbage: (Players to add and stash)

 

QB: Christian Ponder/MIN- You’ve got to give it to the kid. He took the keys to his first career start and stomped on the gas pedal, hitting Michael Jenkins on a 71 yard bomb on the first play of the game. In the world of Whitehursts, Moores, McCoys, and Painters, you could do worse for a bye week fill in. He’ll have his bumps, but Ponder can chuck it and looked decent running the ball as well.

 

RB: Alfonso Smith/ARZ- Smith filled in admirably for Beanie Wells when he missed week 3 @Seattle and is now in line to get the bulk of the Arizona backfield work if Wells’ newest knee injury is of the long-term variety. Beanie has been running it well this year and Smith may be able to follow suit. Snag this guy if you have Wells, or are in need of RB depth.

 

WR: Demaryius Thomas/DEN- Thomas was Tebow’s main man in week 7, as he was targeted 10 times and scored a touchdown. This guy has crazy talent, and is now healthy after an Achilles injury from last season. If Tebow can keep this momentum rolling, and Thomas remains his favorite target, you’ll have yourself a sweet new wide out and a pile of fantasy points to swim in like Scrooge McDuck.

 

TE: Jared Cook/TEN- Cook has now strung a few pretty solid weeks together, as he got into the endzone again this week. Tennessee was a hunk of fantasy crap this week, but Cook still managed to be productive and will only get better from here.

 

 

Cold Trash: (Players to leave on the wire, or trade at peak value if you own them)

 

QB: Carson Palmer/OAK- Oh, boy. Listen up. Everyone is all warm and fuzzy with good Raiders mojo due to the unfortunate passing of Al Davis, but please take off those glasses and look at this quarterback. HE THREW 20 INTERCEPTIONS LAST YEAR. So when the Raiders rushed him out there this week, what happened? Three picks. Just like riding a bike. Leave him for the guy in your league with the Raiders bumper stickers on the back of his mini-van.

 

RB: DeMarco Murray/DAL- Please do not mistake Murray’s presence in this section for me endorsing him as strictly “cold trash.” Murray was fantastic this week. Unbelievable even…if you would like to go that far. However, and this is a Rumford Johnny special, you need to sell a player when they hit their maximum value. Murray is at this point right now,  as his week 7 explosion has fantasy players everywhere salivating. Dangle Murray out there in front of your league mates and see what he can fetch you. If someone wants to cough up a top 10-15 running back, take the money and bolt (does not apply to keeper/dynasty leagues).

 

WR: Dezmon Briscoe/TB- Briscoe had a nice outing this week, with 6 grabs for 73 yards and a score. Mike Williams is still the target beast in Tampa, and Parker/Benn will keep Briscoe from being a consistent contributor. Leave him alone.

 

WR: Plaxico Burress/NYJ- Plax’s value does come as a redzone target, but this week was a bit ridiculous. Burress had 4 catches in the two previous weeks COMBINED and then caught three touchdowns this week alone. If someone in your league is a New Jersey Jets fan, attempt to sell this guy. If somebody cut him after his one catch performance in week 6, leave him on the wire so you don’t have to deal with his inconsistency, or the performance of his quarterback.